At best, the DJ wouldn't suspect anything about me until he got all the information he wanted. But, as expected, it seemed that hiding it until the end was impractical.
Well, it can't be helped anymore.
I shook off the little disappointment I had left. Still, the information he had discovered so far made Form 4 worth taking out.
I don't know what school he belongs to, but he is twenty years old and ranks six.
In addition, the number of candidates was reduced to two. There was no way Auril Gavis would meet him without knowing his name.
But judging by that reaction... This can't be Zerkif Elmen Mackinder.
The probability of 33.3% has just become 50%. This was all I could discover while keeping my identity hidden. Well, I still wasn't going to back down that easily.
If I look at the other two candidates, I think I can find him based solely on those conditions...
However, it was not necessary to do so when the easy way existed. The reason I searched for information more assertively than usual was because I had these means in the first place.
«Tell me. Who are you? How did you get here and why did you pretend to be him?» The general manager noticed my act and pressed me hard as if I were someone important.
Cute.
I smiled. Anyway, I was going to reveal that I was a different person before I left. «Auril Gavis.»
«... What? That's the name of the game's creator—»
«That's the name of the old man you met.»
When I interrupted him, the general manager frowned. He heard me correctly, but it seemed like he didn't understand the content at all.
As a player who cares about rookies, I kindly added an explanation. «That is the man who summoned them all into this world and only intends to use them. He also doesn't have the slightest fault for doing it. Be careful with him».
«If you say that while hiding your identity—»
Whatever.
«It's up to you to believe me or not. I just came here to warn you».
«... So why did you pretend to be him?»
«I wanted to know what kind of person you were before I told you».
Of course, I didn't think the DJ would completely trust this. First of all, I didn't tell him the whole truth and the CEO seemed to be watching me closely to see what my intentions were.
The important thing is how plausible this sounds.
People were so sensitive that upon hearing something like this, regardless of trust, they began to feel uncomfortable. Just like, even if it was very small, you couldn't help but worry about a crack in the wall. Maybe, yes, maybe. Introducing these keywords into the DJ's head was enough for now.
That should drive enough of a wedge between them...
There were countless reasons to distrust Auril, but I decided to end this here. Instead of going on and on, I decided that stimulating his imagination would be more effective.
«... Do you think I'll get carried away by those words?» Of course, since knowing my identity was more important to this man than Auril Gavis at this moment, the general manager raised his voice. «If you do not reveal your identity—»
It was such a ridiculous thing.
That's not how you ask questions, especially to someone who seems stronger than you.
I took a step forward and asked him: «What if I don't reveal it?»
Interrupted, the GM tried to open his mouth to say something, but no sound came out. He just swallowed air.
... Cough!
[León Style Form 3: Lack of respect for the weak.]
When I took another step forward, the GM began to tremble and show the whites of his eyes. I didn't think his willpower was that low. «You are weak.»
When I was your age, I dominated the Round Table, punk.
I lowered the intensity of the murderous energy since he didn't even understand what I was saying like that, and I muttered in a low voice: «Aika Teratios». This was the name of the second candidate Baekho told me about.
The GM's reaction was not what he expected.
What is this man talking about? Is he casting a spell or incantation or something?
Eyes full of caution turned towards me.
Good. This neither? So there is only one candidate left...
«Yurven Havellion.» I continued without pause. It seemed like Baekho wasn't barking at the wrong tree, although he had my doubts.
His reaction was noticeably different from the previous one: temporarily dilated pupils, increased breathing, and stiffness of facial muscles. Without looking away, he even tried to appear casual. He was also considering the possibility that he had mastered the poker face.
«So, that was your name.» Although on the one hand I was filled with the joy of finally discovering the GM's name, on the other I felt somewhat bitter.
To think that he would make it on the third try.
Both 33 percent and 50 percent were worth trying, but successive failures had made me anxious. After all, I assumed there was a winner among them. Well, that's how it always worked for me.
«Yurven Havellion.» I pondered the GM's name and slowly relaxed the killing energy.
When I did, the general manager, who was stiff and unable to breathe, knelt on the ground and began panting to catch his breath. Meanwhile, his eyes were still fixed on me. «W-who are you...?» His eyes were filled with fear rather than hostility, but once the murderous energy that constrained his body and mind disappeared, it seemed like he could make rational judgments.
Flash!
A white light flickered briefly, killing the entire world. This was a phenomenon he had experienced countless times, so there was no need to get confused.
«See you later.»
Using the master's authority, he closed the server.
***
«Are you awake?»
When I opened my eyes, Amelia was sitting next to the bed. There was only one reason why this girl who was busy wandering around the city all day and all night was by my side. While I was in the community, I was incapacitated. She thought it was possible for something to happen in the meantime.
What is going to happen in less than ten seconds?
I almost felt overprotective, but I also felt grateful for it.
«Here.» I was thirsty and grabbed the bottle of water I left on the nightstand when Amelia picked it up and handed it to me.
«Oh thanks.»
«So how did it go?»
After taking a sip just to quench my thirst, I told him the things that happened there. Amelia listened without hiding her interest, but she didn't make too much of a fuss. «Yurven Havellion. To think that the hermit wizard was an evil spirit. The city will be turned upside down if this is known».
«Hermit wizard?»
«Don't you know? He is famous for hiding in the magic tower and rarely spending time outside. Most of his reputation was now made during his time as an explorer».
«See.»
This was the first time I knew he was a homebody, but thanks to some research in the past, I gained general information about him. Due to an incident that caused an explosion at the school where he belonged, he founded his own school. During his days as an explorer, he primarily used wind attribute magic. In his specialty of magic device manufacturing, he had risen to an incomparable position.
That's why his nickname was Magical Engineer.
Anyway, that's how the story began and ended with relief that the Record Fragment Stone didn't end up working.
«... Relief?»
«Ah, in the middle, I started to think that this might be the role I had to play in this era. If this were my final role, I would not be able to purchase the equipment and would have to return as soon as possible». I woke up.»
«Ah... that's right... true.»
«Hey? Amelia, what's wrong?»
«Nothing. So, did you find a place to hide the equipment?» Amelia acted strangely but it wasn't to the point that he would question her. The next topic was also more important.
«Well, I don't know. I explored a lot here and there, but I don't feel safe. I wanted to discuss this with you». After listing the places I had visited so far, I asked Amelia for her opinion.
«Certainly everyone has elements to worry about».
«The forest in the Holy Land would be perfect, but I'm nervous about that shaman who wanders around there all the time».
«So why not leave it in a bank vault?»
«Bank vault?»
It was a method I hadn't even thought about. To use the bank, you would have to use the Nivelles Enze identity. Not only was there a chance that a problem would arise in recovering him as Bjorn Yandel, but more importantly, Nivelles Enze was an identity that would be removed next year for not paying taxes. Simply put, the deposit would be returned to the national treasury.
But it's not like you can pay twenty years of taxes up front either.
This method had many realistic limitations, so he was not even listed as a candidate.
But she wouldn't have said that without knowing this...
«Explain it in detail».
When I adjusted my posture, Amelia parted her lips. «Alminus bank has a fixed-term and unallocated safe.»
«I had never heard it.» It was not a system that existed in the game. That meant it was an update that occurred 150 years from now.
«It's natural that you don't know. This system is little known even to explorers who frequent the bank». Amelia then briefly explained the unallocated fixed-term safe.
In short, if I pay money, even without revealing my identity, the items will be stored for a certain period of time. Until I recover the item, I just need to keep the password. Mmm, not bad.
***
The next day I left the inn with Amelia for the first time in a long time to visit the bank and confirm if the policy in question had any toxic clauses or elements of concern that I did not know about.
This is even better than the Swiss bank.
I decided this was at least safer than burying the weapon in the ground, so I ended up putting the Kraul Demon Crusher in the unassigned personal safe. The period was set at a generous twenty-two years. Well, considering the rate wasn't a joke.
«Don't worry, an amount like this is more than feasible».
As it was accompanied by Amelia's blessing, this type of change was not a problem. Fortunately, it seemed like things had gone well.
«Uh, did you find the money left over...?»
Amelia, who for two weeks worked day and night to earn money, effectively raised the promised capital. When I asked him what kind of witchcraft he performed, his response was this: «Nothing special. I only sold information».
Taking advantage of her return privilege, she sold information. Its main clients were those interested in this auction. It seemed like he was selling information about the names and colors of the essences that would be auctioned.
«But that's strange. Why would they trust the source?»
«Ah, I used the position of head of the central exchange».
«Used? As?»
«I followed him twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to investigate and found something to hold him accountable. I used it to threaten him».
It seemed that the exchange had put a lot of effort into keeping the secret because not even the branch manager knew what the essence in question was. Of course, that was only a minor problem for us. The important thing was to make customers think that this was reliable internal information.
«When I visited the branch manager's office with them, no one questioned the authenticity of the information. If the information was incorrect, they probably thought they could hold the branch manager responsible».
After hearing all this, I couldn't hide my astonishment. This was an ingenuity that could have made her a successful businesswoman. Was this the dignity of a comrade of the RSS?
«Amelia...!»
«W-what...! Don't hit me!»
As a result, Amelia took it upon herself to find the location to hide the equipment, sell it, and find the money to buy the essence.
«Ugh, it's today...»
Time passed and the day of the auction arrived.